Adjustable supporting means



April 1932- s. N. BUCHANAN ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTING MEANS Filed July 24, 1926' L'LLJWZ Fig 2 INVENTOR STEPHEN N BUCHANAN A TTURNE Y Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE swarm n. aucnmm, or NEW 1031:, n. 2,, assrenoa m an new a am: 00.,

i or mmna'rn, maw mam, a oonromrron or mrw mean! ADJUSTABLE SUIPOB'IUG nus Application med m :4, 1m. Serial No. 124,507.

This invention relates to adjustable supporting means for various articles, such as conduit or outlet boxes, used in electric hght wiring of buildings, conduits carrying electric li ht wires, signal wires,.water, gas etc.

In tie constructlon of fireproof bulldmgs, the window and door frames are usually made of steel, the door frames bein referred to, in the vernacular of the tra e, as steel door bucks. These door frames or bucks are at the present time, usually made of steel formed into a hollow channel shape, the lower end of the buck being fastened to some steel framework of the building, or set in concrete.

In order to provide a mounting for an outlet box or a conduit. it has been and is the ractice so far as I am aware, to cut a wooden lock of a length to fit tightly intothe interior of the specific buck used. The block must be put in edgewise, and then turned over into position, and hammered into place. If the block is not the right length, another one must be cut, until the proper fit is secured. The openings inthe 001' ,bucks vary in width, so that much time is lost in fitting the wood block in position. After the block has been hammered to a tight fit, in the buck then an iron strap. is fitted to it and the strap drilled in the exact spot, so it will receive an outlet box at the desired distance from the door buck. It will be seen that this procedure which is illustrative of the present practice is slow and more or less expensive.

It is therefore the principal object of my invention to provide improved supporting means, by which a workman can make all the necessary attachments and adjustments in a very small fraction of the time required by the old method above set forth,

My improvement will be best understood by reference to the annexed drawings,in which Figure 1, shows on a reduced scale an elevation of a door frame, or buck.

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1, and Figure 8 is a top view of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on a reduced scale, through one side of the door buck showing somewhat dia ammatically a air of outlet boxes mounte in position.

igure 5 is a perspective view of a small portion of a door buck looking from the left of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of my adjustable supporting means having means for carrying or securing a conduit in position rather than an outlet box.

Referring now to the details, 1, is a door frame preferably of steel, which is set or carried by any suitable foundation, as by con-- crete 2. The door frame or buck is channel shaped having an opening 3, on its outside substantially all the way around its periphery, although it is to'be understood that the channel may be closed the major part of the distance, leaving only openings on the sides and at the top; the fram is preferably made with a projection 4, to act as a stop for the door.

It will be appreciated that in order to get the outlet box mounted at the proper height, the attachment means must be provided with means for attaching it to the door buck so that it may be quickly adjusted in a vertical direction, likewise the member carrying the outlet boxes must. have an adjustment substantially parallel to the axis of the member engaging the door buck so that when the tile and plaster is put on, they will be properly positioned with respect to the cover plate, likewise means must be provided on the supporting member so that the outlet boxes may be set at the desired distance from the edge of the door buck. These adjustments are provided in the following instrumentalities: comprising a carrier 5, preferably in the form of a bar adapted to be quickly inserted through the opening in the door buck. The bar 5, is provided with a lug 6, preferably punched outward from the'material itself, to a position where it will properly engage the edge 7 of the buck 1. The bar 5, is slotted at 8, and adjustably positioned on the bar 5, is a lug 9, attached thereto by means of a screw (not shown) passing engage the edge 10 of the buck 1.

' mensions, a supporting member carrie It is thus seen that the bar 5, may be adjusted to any height desired, and quickly fastened in position. The bar 5, is adapted to carry a su portin member 11, which has one end 12, nt su stantially at ht angles to the mainportion 11, and is attac ed to the bar 5,-by means ofa screw or bolt (not shown) which passes through the slot 8, thereby providing an adjustment with the member 11, on the bar in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of said bar.

- The support member 11, is slotted at 14, to receive the screws or bolts 15 passing through the outlet boxes 16. In Figure 5, only one wall of the outlet box is shown in order that the parts may be more clearly shown in the drawings.

Likewise certain of the fastening screws or bolts are not shown for the urpose of clarity.

This arrangement provi es an adjustment in a direction parallel to the axis of the support member 11.

From what has been said it will be seen that the outlet boxes ma be quickly brought into proper vertical an horizontal positions so that the cover plate 18, will always come in exact position with respect to the box and the plaster finish line 17.

In Figure 6, I have shown a clamp 19, adjustably carried on the member 11, so that a conduit for any purpose may be supported in an desired position.

e I have shown certain supporting means, it will be ap. arent that the details may be varied consi erably without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Adjustable supporting means for attachin an electrical fittin to a channel sha metal frame, comprising; a carrier in t e form of a bar, for spanning the openingin the frame and longer than the width of said 0 ening and having an integral lug at one en for en a ng the side of the opening, a clam sli ab y attached to the oppo site end of t e bar for engaging another side of the opening, a supporting member slidabl mounted on the bar substantially at rig t angles thereto, said supporting member being provided with means for slidably carryin an article thereon.

2. Afjustable supporting means for attaching an electrical fitting to a channel sha d metal frame, comprising; a carrier in t e form of a bar, for spanning the o ning in said frame, means at opposite en s of the bar for en aging said frame, said means includin a 0 amp carried by the bar and adjustab e thereon in a direction parallel with the axis of the bar, whereby the bar may be mounted in openings of varying %lthe bar and adjustable thereon in a directioi i LUUUIIBI parallel with the axis of the bar, means for supporting an article on said supporting member and said means permitting the article to be adjusted in a direction parallel with'the axis of the supporting member.

3. Means for mount ng an article on a hollow steel frame havin flanges extending toward each other from t e side walls of the frame but leaving an opening between said flanges comprising; a carrier adapted to be placed within the hollow part of the frame and to stretch across the opening between said flanges clamping means associated with the carrier or engaging said flanges, at least a art of the clamping means being adjustab e on the carrier to accommodate the same to openings of varying width, a su porting member secured to and extending rom the carrier substantially at ri ht angles thereto and longitudinally ad ustable thereon, said supporting member being provided with means for securing, an artic e thereto, in a plurality of positions longitudinally of said sup ortmg member for the purpose descri d.

4. In combination with a frame consisting of a hollow metal structure having a longitudinal o ning on one side of the frame and extending in the direction of its length, means for attaching an outlet box thereto comprising; a bar positioned in operative relation to the hollow frame and extendin across the opening and longer than the width of the opemng and grovided with means for quickly engaging t e frame in any desired POSltlOllylt supporting member mounted on the bar substantially at right angles thereto, and for longitudinal adjustment thereon, an

outlet box carried on said supportin member and means for longitudinally a usting the outlet box thereon, all forthe purposes described.

-5. In combination with a hollow metal frame structure having a longitudinal opening in the outer peripheral portion of the frame, means for mounting an-electrical fittin thereto comprising; a carrier located wit in the frame and extending transversely across said openin and provided with means for fastening t e same to the frame structure, at least a part of said fastenin means being adjustab e along the carrier an an arm adjustably carried on the carrier, said arm having means for longitudinally adjustably mounting an electrical fitting thereon.

6. Means for attachin an electrical fitting to a hollow open metal ame for an opening in a building, whereby the fittingmay be quickly positloned s0 asto be at; t e proper height from the floor line, a suitable distance from said frame, and in the ri ht position with respect to the plaster fini line comprising; a carrier extending across the opening in the frame, said carrier provided with a pair of clamps for engaging the frame; at

least one of said clamps being slidable on the carrier for quickly adjusting the vertical position of the carrier in the frame, with respect to the floor line a supporting member mounted on and at right angles to the carrier, means for longitudinally adjusting the supporting member on the carrier for the purpose described and means rovided on the supporting member for slida 1y securing said fitting thereon so the same may be quickly brought to the desired position with respect to. the frame as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix m signature.

STEPHEN N. BUC NAN. 

